P246 CEEFAX 246 Fri 6 May 21:15/49 1/3 FAR EAST STOCKS Tokyo (Close): Share prices closed higher in very thin volume of just 170m-odd shares. $hj Nikkei average advanced 292.26 points to 19,862.47. Brokers said activity was expected to pick up next week. Honk Kong (Close): Reports that the Chinjsj leader, Deng Xiaoping, was in good health helped stocks post sjzjable gains. $hj Hang Sing index advanced 207.39 points to close at 8,620.27. Headlines 201 World indices 243 Forex rld Indices London ExchangesP246 CEEFAX 246 Fri 6 May 21:14/49 2/3 FAR EAST STOCKS Australia (Close): Bargain-hunting after declines earlier in the week helped share prices finish higher. Brokers said the futures contract'3 21mpoint discount to the cash index offset claims that the market could now have touched bottom. The All Ordinaries index rose 16.2 points to close at 2,004.3. Singapore (Close): Shares drifted lower in "uninspiring" volume. $hj Straits Times Industrials index closed down 21.55 at 2,256.19. Headlines 201 World indices 243 Forex rld Indices London ExchangesP246 CEJFAX 246 Fri 6 May 21:10/42 G EUROPEAN STOCKS I Frankfurt (Close): The DAX index finished 1.18 points higher on the day at 2,237.02. Shakes slipped slightly towards close of trade on position-squaring but still managed a small gain on the day. Dealers anticipate a further rise in the medium-term. Paris (Close): The CAC 40 index was 4.40 points lower at 2,158.22 at close of trade. Dealers said earlier losses dui to US rate fears were largely recouped bz the end of the session. Headlines 201 World indices 243 Forex rld Indices London Exchanges